Thanks for all your responses so far! A lot more of the story is to come!
Chapter 2
Following the Queen silently up the stairs, leading away from the dungeons, the scared blonde pauses with a frown as the regal woman continues her journey down the corridor and towards the main staircase.
Sensing the young woman no longer behind her, the intimidating brunette stops in her tracks and peers over her shoulder to meet green, confused eyes. "Why have you stopped? I told you to follow me. Do not disobey me dear, it won't be pretty"
"I..I'm not..I just..." Staring across towards the back doorway, Emma bites her lip as she holds her bump protectively. "Isn't your..isn't the..execution block..out in the yard?"
"Yes it is, but we are not going there" the queen responds in a serious tone. "I do not intend for your head to be on my block, I am taking you to a more comfortable room.."
"But-" seeing the woman glare in her direction, clearly irritated, the blondes eyes quickly bolt to the ground as she begins to follow her once again.
Reaching a somewhat isolated chamber in the west wing, the Queen unlocks the door and pushes it open forcefully. "Here. This is where you'll be staying, for the foreseeable future at least"
"I don't understand..." Moving into the room, Emma stands beside the open door. "I thought I was to be kept as a prisoner and now you're giving me a bedroom?"
Shrugging, the brunette then places her hand upon her hip. "Not that I have to explain myself to you but I simply have my reasons. Just be thankful you're still breathing"
Nodding at the sharp tone while trying not to compare the regal woman to the one person she misses so much, the young blonde begins to take the room in and walk towards the open balcony. "..thank you.." Peering over her shoulder, Emma smiles slightly at the likeness due to the Queen's kind act and gaze to which the brunette quickly turns her head away at being caught. "For not killing me.."
Clearing her throat awkwardly, the Queen drops her intimidating pose. "..you're..welcome.." Making her way back through the door, she stops briefly with her hand on the handle. "I have work to attend to. If you request anything, ask my guard who will be stood at your door"
Blinking out of her stare, noticing more and more similarities, especially at how awkward the woman feels at becoming embarrassed before trying to hide away from the situation, Emma bites her lip. "Why am I being treated differently? To the others I mean.."
Taking a deep breath, the brunette looks back and lowers her eyes towards the blondes protruding stomach before confessing. "I have not nor do I ever intend on killing or even hurting a child"
"Oh..well that's- wait, so once I have the baby I'm dead?"
Letting slip a chuckle at Emma's sudden wide and curious eyes, the Queen shakes her head. "Hopefully you won't be here that long. Do you not have a family that you need to get home to or did I not hear correctly?"
"I do!" Realising that she might actually have a chance of getting back, Emma looks hopeful. "You're going to let me go?"
"No dear" turning back to the corridor at such statement, not wanting to appear weak, the brunette answers truthfully. "I'm going to help you"
Watching the door close behind the Queen, Emma sinks down onto the soft, welcoming bed and gives her stomach a gentle rub. "See kiddo, she was never really evil.." Feeling a strong kick, the blonde smiles at her answer. Her baby, their baby, definately knew.
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Pacing up and down anxiously in front of her mirror, the Queen stops midway as the glass lights up and a face appears. Staring at the trapped genie unimpressed, she gestures with her hands outstretched. "Well? What information do you have for me? What did you find out?"
"Nothing your majesty. There is no one searching for the woman"
Sighing in frustration, the brunette reaches for her goblet and gulps a mouthful of wine before slamming the brass base against her vanity. "What about her secret? What is she hiding?"
Bowing his head, the genie braces himself. "Again, nothing your majesty. I cannot find any information on her or her family"
"She must exist! Otherwise she wouldn't be here!" Beginning to pace again, the Queen tries to figure out her next course of action. "I heard her. She was talking to the child and she said that if she told everything it would be ruined. I need to know what that is, she could be a danger to all of us!"
Frowning, the genie lifts his head. "If you believe her to be a threat, why place in her a chamber?"
Growling under her breath, the regal woman waves her hand, forcing the mirror to darken. No one questions the Queen.
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Pulling the door to the chamber open slowly, Emma peers out into the corridor to see if there was any way she could wonder around. She had been told about the castle by her mother and the stories of her growing up beside her father, the King. The blonde wanted to go and search for a way home and she knew of a room that might help. According to her mother, when the Queen came to live with them, when she started to learn her magic, she sealed off a room as her own so she could practice with no distractions. Only problem was that a young, curious, Snow White did in fact find said room and ruined everything once again.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Turning her head towards the voice, Emma sighs at seeing the huntsman. "Oh it's you.." Raising an eyebrow, she steps into the corridor more boldly before scoffing. "Thanks for your help by the way..you know back there when you sent me to the dungeon. Great hospitality"
Confessing with a hint of guilt, Graham scratches his neck. "I was merely doing as I was told. If I didn't, it would have been my head on that block"
"So you would rather send a woman and child instead? Very heroic"
"I'm sorry. Truly I am, but you don't know what her majesty is like.."
Biting her lip, Emma clears her throat before muttering. "Oh I know her more than you think.."
Hearing the small statement, the huntsman leans against the wall intrigued. "Is that so?"
"It's a very long and complicated story" wanting to change the subject, the blonde looks down the corridor again. "Anyway I can go for a walk? The little ones foot has been pressed into my back for the past half an hour and I need a stretch"
"You may, with a guard.."
Rolling her eyes, Emma shrugs. "Fine. Although I don't get why. So what if I leave? The Queen has made it known I am not a prisoner so why can I not just go?"
Deciding to be honest, Graham pushes himself up off the wall. "She thinks you could be a threat.."
Eyes widening, the blonde drops her mouth open. "To her? That is..I mean..there's no way I'd..."
"Apparently she overheard you talking to the child. Something about a secret that could ruin everything"
"So what if I have? Everyone has secrets, it doesn't mean I'm out to hurt anyone. Especially her. I couldn't"
Noticing a change in her emotion, the huntsman presses further. "There are a lot of people in this land who would be quite happy to see the demise of our Queen but you are clearly not one of them. Question is, why do you care for her majesty so much?"
"All I'm going to say is that we have a history, a history to which she wouldn't remember. That is all" rubbing her bump agitated, Emma sighs again. "Can I go now?"
"Fine.." Moving to step beside her, Graham walks alongside the blonde in silence.
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"Have you been here before?"
Hearing the huntsman pipe up after a good ten minutes of peace and quiet, Emma continues on her mission. "Why do you ask?"
"You seem to know you're way around this castle awfully well" the huntsman admits.
"I've been told stories. Besides its not that hard to figure out. All castles are pretty much the same. A wing here, a wing there, a dungeon, hidden vault. All the same"
Looking ahead to where the blonde is leading them, Graham stops. "Wait. We cannot go any further..maybe it's time to go back to your chamber"
"Why can't we go further?" Pretending to play dumb, Emma chuckles. "Is this where the Queen keeps her hidden vault?"
"Erm..no. Let's just head back"
"But-"
"If I were you dear, I'd listen very carefully to what my huntsman is telling you" appearing in purple smoke before the pair, the Queen places her hands on her hips with a scold. "Do you know how rude it is to look around a persons castle without their permission?"
"Do you know that it's against the law to hold someone prisoner without a valid reason?" Emma remarks, stepping up to test the regal woman. "I am doing what anyone here would given the chance. Try to get out because clearly there is something going on here"
"I said I would help you, you ungrateful wench!" Inhaling sharply to keep calm, the Queen glares. "Besides I am not the one keeping secrets around here and if there is one thing you should learn while you reside in my castle is that I detest anyone who keeps a secret!"
"Well then let me go!" The blonde huffs. "I just want to get home, I told you-"
Cutting in, the Queen sneers. "Exactly where is home? According to my sources there is no one searching for you"
Keeping quiet, Emma looks away.
"Graham take her back to her chamber"
"Yes your majesty" bowing to his Queen, the huntsman takes hold of the blondes shoulder and steers her away, back to the west wing.
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Standing before the chamber door, the Queen ponders over her next move. She should really forget everything that had been said. She should really send the woman who clearly has no one else to the block for intrusion of her forest, but she couldn't. This unspoken word, this secret which the blonde is holding is getting to her too much. She needed to know what was going on. Closing her eyes briefly while taking a deep breath, the regal woman swallows get pride and opens the door without announcing herself. She needed to get to the bottom of this, even if it meant playing nice for the meantime. Moving inside the chamber, the Queen frowns at finding it empty. Did she not order her huntsman to return the woman at once? Clenching her fists tightly, she turns back to the door but pauses at hearing movement in the adjoining room. Stalking over to the adjoining door, the Queen realises that the young blonde must be in the bathroom as water could be heard running. Biting her lip, she stands against the wall. "I believe that in the time that you have been here, I have not once asked your name?"
Sinking into the bathtub, Emma glances towards the closed door in surprise of the Queen's presence then gulps to find her voice. "..Emma..."
Smiling to herself, the Queen rests her head back against the wall as she smooths down her dress. "Pretty name Emma. I..I wanted to apologise for my actions. I am truly trying to help you but I fear that not everyone accepts me and I heard you talking. What is so wrong that you have to hide it?"
Looking down to her stomach, the blonde sighs before answering. "Nothing..except..everything. I...I do have someone waiting for me. A wife and..a daughter, she's now 3 and so confident and strong. I know you said you couldn't find anything but it's because they are not in this realm...or even time. I shouldn't even be telling you this but I need to get home before this little one inside of me decides to make an appearance. My wife would never forgive me or herself. She'd be throwing fireballs at this very moment if she's realised I'm missing"
Raising an eyebrow at the mention of fireballs, the regal woman looks across the room absentmindedly. Trailing her eyes towards the small vanity, she spots a set of rings. Shaking her head with a soft smile, she strolls over. "Word of warning dear, do not leave any prized possessions laying around. You cannot always trust my guards. Given the right opportunity they would steal from you" gently picking up the rings, the Queen's smile drops.
"Oh..okay..thanks for the warning"
Separating the rings, the regal woman lifts the princess cut, gold, diamond ring to inspect it more closely. Frowning at recognising the item, she tilts her head back to the closed door in which the blonde is behind. Trying to hold her temper, the Queen grips the rings within her palm as she releases a shaky breath. "Why the hell do you have the ring my father gave me?!"